Well. the rain finally stopped here at corporate headquarters.
That meant the sports department returned to cover high school football and The Chief had to put down his paint-by-numbers oil set.
Hey, you gotta do something constructive in a downpour. The Chief is our own Renoir.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once said,” the best thing we can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.” Ole Henry W. was quite the sage. Yes, you always learn something in this column.
The high school football schedule was totally jumbled last week, with 5 “Big-11′ games moving to Thursday night, 2 moving to Monday night and one, Salem vs Carroll County, throwing in the wet towel before being cancelled altogether.
It’s all summed up best by gamester Shigeru Miyamoto. “A delayed game is eventually good; a bad game is bad forever.” Mr. Miyamoto may have been watching the VT-Pitt game last Saturday when he cut loose with that one.
That being said, it’s important to point out that the Ouija is rainproof. Last week’s predictions only had one miss, a 6-1 ‘Big-11’ performance that leaves the year-to-date numbers at 42-of-48 correct (.875).
So, now we put away the umbrellas and get right to this week’s slate of games where all members of the ‘Big-11’ are in action, albeit spread from Thursday until Saturday night.
CARROLL COUNTY AT HIDDEN VALLEY: Carroll County travels from Hillsville to Bogle to be the homecoming guest for the winless Titans. Hidden Valley’s defense has had it tough this year. The holes get closed this Friday night. Upset special: Hidden Valley- 35 Carroll County- 16
PATRICK HENRY AT CAVE SPRING: (SAT 1:00 pm) Both PH and Cave Spring are on the outside looking in for a playoff berth. The winner here improves their chances significantly. Patrick Henry- 27 Cave Spring- 14
SALEM AT BLACKSBURG: (THURS 7:00 pm) This game moved to Thursday because of the VT-NC State Friday night matchup. See Salem win, then avoid the traffic and go home. Salem- 42 Blacksburg- 21
WILLIAM FLEMING AT WILLIAM BYRD: Another case of two teams outside looking in for a 4A West playoff berth. Byrd’s losses have come to Salem and Magna Vista. William Byrd- 34 William Fleming- 22
LORD BOTETOURT AT ALLEGHANY: The Cavaliers roiled on the road last Thursday night. Expect the same in Low Moor. Lord Botetourt- 41 Alleghany- 20
NORTHSIDE AT STAUNTON RIVER: Northside is trailing Staunton River in the latest 3A West playoff rankings. Figures can be deceptive. Northside- 20 Staunton River- 17
GILES AT GLENVAR: (SAT 6:00 pm) A pair of undefeated teams knock heads in Highlander Heaven. Giles may have too much size in this Saturday night blockbuster. Giles- 27 Glenvar- 25
NORTH CROSS AT ST. ANNE’S-BELFIELD: This will be a classic in the private school ranks. STAB has some big-time players. North Cross will be pressed to keep up in Charlottesville. St. Anne’s-Belfield- 34 North Cross- 20
ROANOKE CATHOLIC AT FUQUA: The Celtics have one loss to Auburn. Fuqua is undefeated. The Ouija says the Celtics look like 4-leaf clovers for a road win. Upset special #2. Roanoke Catholic- 26 Fuqua- 21
Off to some housekeeping, where thanks go out to Roanoke Catholic’s Asst. Coach Wimmer for his homecoming hospitality Monday night at Vinyard Park. I told Celtic fans I’d come dressed for the occasion, and I delivered. Also, to Charles Bates for his help after a photography malfunction on my end.
The Roanoke Valley Sports Club announces tickets are now available for the Monday, October 19th meeting at the Salem Civic Center, where ESPN Radio personality Bob Valvano will be the guest speaker. A 5:45 social will be followed by the 6:00 dinner meeting. Contact Maggie Drewry at 540-353-1103 for information and to purchase tickets.
Now, to this week’s mail bag where one reader asks to dive head first into some murky college football floodwaters and another gets advice about jack-o’lanterns.
Dear Wild Bill: Love the high school predictions for our local teams. Our breakfast group tries to match wits with you. But, you rarely say anything about college football. What’s the strangest thing you’ve noticed in the college game this season? (Ed and all the guys/ Roanoke)
Well, Ed, it has to be the website www.coacheshotseat.com , which provides the Top-25 college coaches in the land who are ‘on the hot seat for lack of performance. The coach in the #1 hot seat in this week’s edition is Purdue’s Darrell Hazell. Not surprisingly, UVA’s Mike London holds down the #3 spot. In the #21 spot is Frank Beamer, where Coaches Hot Seats says, “Trouble begins and ends with mediocrity that VT football has become with Frank Beamer in the last 4 years, 24-20 overall and 12-13 in the ACC.”
Looks like the halo over the Beamer Barn isn’t as shiny and bright as some would like you to think. I just report it. As Joe Friday said on Dragnet, “Just the facts, ma’am. Just the facts.” Dum-de-dum-dum. The story you have just heard is true.
Dear Star Predictor: Heavy rains and postponed games. What has you scratching your head most with all this? (David/Rocky Mount)
It had to be the comment I heard from a guy that the rain was finally ending, so we could resume carving our pumpkins. My question is “why can’t you carve pumpkins when it’s raining?”
Until next week, I’ll try to keep my Loudmouth pants off the predictors hot seat. Meantime, send your comments to [email protected].
